Politicians have been so eager to “expand access to higher education” that taxpayers are now getting to pay for non-existent students.

In today’s Martin Center article, Joe Pitts looks at this problem.

He writes:

In the case of California’s community-college system, offenders created fake student identities using stolen or fabricated personal information. Next, they enrolled in courses and subsequently applied for financial aid. These fake “students” submitted coursework — with significant support from artificial intelligence — just long enough to have aid deposited into their bank accounts. Finally, they withdrew from courses and disappeared, pocketing the cash.

The root of the problem is that government is very lax with identification requirements. And online classes make it still easier for fraudsters to get away with taxpayer money.

Will the politicians take the necessary steps?